From the Pastor.. Buen Camino, Pastor Marraine. Inside this issue:

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1 The Caller 1 Our mission is to create and nurture a family of Faith to do God s work, modeling the gospel of Jesus Christ. Inside this issue: From the Pastor.. Trustee s Report 2 Committee Reports 3 Birthdays & Mail 4 Photo Gallery 5-7 Church Events 8 UCC News 9 Community Events 9 Calendar 10 Holy Week and Easter are upon us. The hope of the resurrection comes to us out of the mud, rain, and snow. Even out of the gray of a New York winter, promise blooms. Soon the heaviness of Lent will be replaced by the euphoria of Easter. The journey that each of us takes to the cross in the midst of Lent offers unique experiences of the way Easter works into our lives. Lent for me this year has been packed with preparation for the journey I begin during the season of Easter. In order to leave my house and my job for three months with a backpack weighing no more than twenty pounds, I have done a lot of clearing, sorting, and donating. Some of it has been a cathartic experience. Some has been downright joyful. In the midst of all of it, I am finding more room for God in my life. I trust that as Easter approaches and I head for the trail, my awareness of God s presence will deepen. I trust that my journey will enrich me as a pastor and as a child of God. As I prepare for sabbatical including a walking pilgrimage on the Santiago de Compostella trail, I cannot help but reflect on the journey I have been on with you so far. What a journey we have had! What great things we have done together. As members of the Body of Christ, we have offered our time, treasures, and talents to making the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Corning a vibrant congregation. In this time of sabbatical, my goals are to rest, reflect, pray, read, walk, and walk, and walk. My personal hope is to return for Part Two of my ministry here restored and reinvigorated. My experiences and spiritual practices will serve as illustrations for sermons and discussions and hopefully serve as encouragement for each of you to ponder your spiritual journey in a little more depth. As we walk the trail together, me in Spain and you here in Corning, I ask that we pray for each other s journey s. I trust that when we come back together in August that we will all have stories to tell and experiences to share. Buen Camino, Pastor Marraine

2 2 The Caller is published by the First Congregational United Church of Christ 171 West Pulteney Street Corning, NY No matter who you are or where you are on life s journey, you are welcome here!! Office hours: Tuesday Friday. 9:00 a.m. - noon Phone: (607) Fax: (607) ucc-corning@verizon.net Web: Facebook.com/FCUCCC Pastor: Rev. Marraine C. Kettell Secretary: Brenda Passmore NEWS FROM TRUSTEES A congregational discussion of the status of the flat roof of our church was held on March 15 th. (See additional article re the roof.) Jim Nelson is in contact with Keuka Construction and CBC to move along the process of replacing the back entrance door this spring. Community Garden a Boy Scout has met with the Garden Committee and will put together a proposal to assist with the garden as his Eagle Scout project. The bi-annual fund raiser will be chaired this year by Joyce Nelson and Sylvia Brown. The event will take place on September 12 th. The congregation is advised to begin thinking now about items to save for the Flea Market and Bazaar. A plan is being developed to change the duties of the Treasurer s position to involve more than one person as detailed in the March Caller by the Nominating Committee. This will require some changes to our By-Laws. CAPITAL CAMPAIGN PROGRESS Receipts through February, 2015: $122,988 Receipts through March 22, 2015: 680 Total receipts: $123,668 Expenses paid through December 2014: Dates Inside this to issue: Remember: Maundy Thursday April 2 Good Friday April 3 Women s Fellowship Mtg. April 8 Congregational Discussion April 12 Book Club April 15 The Sabbatical Begins April 20 Flat Roof Discussion May 3 Flat Roof Vote June 7 The Flea Market Sept 12 Dishwasher 4,350 Windows (100%) 52,427 Sidewalk replacement 10,900 Paint/painting supplies 229 Painter (windows) 1,000 Total expenses: $68,906 Cash on hand that is available for other projects: $54,762 (Trustees are pursuing the cost of replacing the back entrance door with an automated handicap accessible door as we discussed in our original project proposal. It is hoped that we might accomplish this in the spring.) A reminder that the Capital Campaign is now in the 2 nd year. Our original pledged amount was $170,000. We have received slightly over 72% of the pledged amount. Thank you to everyone who has either paid their pledge in full or who is continuing to make timely payments. If you are unsure where you stand with the capital campaign, please contact Pam Schmitt, our Chief Collector, who keeps those records. The campaign is scheduled to continue through 2016.

3 The Caller 3 Sabbatical Details Pastor Marraine s Sabbatical runs from April 20 th to August 2 nd. It is a combination of the three month sabbatical offered in her call agreement and two weeks of vacation. Her last Sunday before sabbatical is April 19 th. Her first day back in the office will be Monday, August 3 rd. Keep watch for a letter from Pastor Marraine after Easter highlighting areas of coverage. Rev. James K. J.K. Boodley, our Interim Pastor while Pastor Marraine is away. Rev. James K. "J.K." Boodley is a native Ithacan and Cornell graduate. He has an MDiv. from Colgate Rochester Crozier Divinity School in Rochester. His work in ministry includes serving as an intentional interim for area congregations and Ithaca College, chaplain at Wells College, and volunteer on-call chaplain at Cayuga Medical Center in Ithaca. He describes himself as an "off the charts liberal with a very strong conservative streak." He explains, "What Jesus taught about loving one's neighbor was truly radical for its time and continues to be a challenge for us now; that's the liberal part. I expect us to take his message for us seriously, to actually followthrough in applying it to our lives today; that's the conservative part." Between doing more than 12 intentional interims and his work in college and hospital ministry, J.K.'s considers his work to boil down to "being a witness to reality." That is, to doing our best to see how God is actually working in our lives and following God in continuing that work. April Deacon s Offering Planned Parenthood Located in beautiful Upstate New York, Planned Parenthood of the Southern Finger Lakes (PPSFL) has five health centers including one in Corning. PPSFL was created in 2004 by the merger of Planned Parenthood of the Southern Tier and Planned Parenthood of Tompkins County, both founded in They are committed to providing quality reproductive health care and sexuality education for all people in the community regardless of age, race, ethnicity, physical ability or attributes, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or ability to pay. Since 1996, they have been the designated provider of sexual violence response and education services in Chemung, Steuben, and Schuyler Counties. Learn more at Congregational Discussion - April 12 Please join us after worship Sunday, April 12 th for an informal dynamic conversation about the Mission and Vision Statement which has been part of the Advisory Board s discussions over the past year. Gather for fellowship and stay to share the vision of the church. Name Tags, Name Tags, Please Wear Your Name Tags! To help our Sabbatical Pastor, Rev. J.K. Boodley, please wear your nametags throughout his time with us. It will be difficult to master all of our names in the short time he is here. It will reduce the awkwardness of repeatedly asking names. Your help is needed. As Pastor Marraine hikes to her sabbatical journey and an interim pastor steps into his Corning journey, please sign up for your part of this journey on the calendar in the Fellowship Hall - to help read scripture, offer a friendly greeting, host coffee hour, or to float for Sunday School. Thanks.

4 4 3 rd Christian Bratti 4 th Michael Walker 11 th Marraine Kettell 12 th Cathy Hogan 13 th Casey Davis 14 th Carole Fimlaid 16 th Judy Graf 20 th Pam Schmitt 21 st Maxwell Joseph Jennings 21 st Matthew Hageman 24 th Todd Smith 24 th Nina Howard 26 th Tess Barber 28 th Betty Carpenter Mail Dear UCC Members, Thank you for the very thoughtful and generous care package I received today. I wasn t expecting it, so it really made my day. Thanks so much! Love, Grace Cooper Dear Women s Fellowship, Thank-you so much for your donation of hats and mittens! With the extreme temperatures this winter, we have been using large numbers of these items, so your generosity to Severn is greatly appreciated. Anne Stefanini, School Nurse Dear Women s Fellowship, Thank you so much for the wonderful care package! My supply of chocolate has been replenished. I miss all of you and I can t wait to see you guys. My semester has been very busy, but it is going well and I love it at Allegheny. I will be going to California over Spring Break, but I will see you guys in May. Thanks again for the package and for everything you do for the church. Love, Laura Dear Rev. Kettell, On behalf of the Corning Community Food Pantry, the Board of Directors and the people we serve, we would like to thank you for your recent donation of $1,000. We, at the pantry are very grateful for your continued support of our food pantry. All the best to you and your congregation. Sincerely, Cheri Crozier Hi, Just wanted to say it was so nice to receive the care package from church recently with all the goodies. I can't thank you all enough for your kindness. Hope you're well! Will Madison With Special Thanks to All, Thank you for all the great cards and letters, phone calls and visits. Walt Connor

5 The Caller 5 Photo Gallery Everyone enjoyed the High Tea on March 8th organized by Women s Fellowship. Patricia Edgecomb led our worship service on March 8th! Community Office Hours at Soulful Cup on March 24th!

6 6 Our fantastic, fabulous youth led us in worship on March 22nd!

7 The Caller 7 The 2015 UCC New York State Youth Event at Watson Homestead.

8 8 Church Events Wednesday April 15th at 7pm in the Brisco Lounge. The April book is Love Wins by Rob Bell You do not have to read the book to participate in a lively discussion of its message. Rob Bell addresses hell and the afterlife arguing, would a loving God send people to eternal torment forever? Rob Bell is an electrifying, unconventional pastor whom Time magazine calls a singular rock star in the church world. With searing insight, Bell puts hell on trial with a hopeful message eternal life doesn t start when we die; it starts right now. And ultimately, Love Wins. Wed., April 8th at noon Please join us for a dish-to-pass luncheon followed by a meeting. Congregational Discussion - April 12 Please join us after worship Sunday, April 12 th for an informal dynamic conversation about the Mission and Vision Statement which has been part of the Advisory Board s discussions over the past year. Gather for fellowship and stay to share the vision of the church. March 29 Palm Sunday, 10:00am Worship followed by an Easter Egg Hunt April 2 Maundy Thursday First Congregational United Church of Christ 5:30pm dish to pass, 7:00pm worship April 3, Good Friday Christ Episcopal Church Community Service, 12:00pm April 3, Stations of the City Good Friday, gathering at Christ Episcopal Church at 1pm, departure at 1:15pm. We will be walking from Christ Episcopal and looping back to First United Methodist Church stopping at various sites along the way for a reading and hymn before continuing to the next stop. Clergy participating in the walk will wear their clerical robes or collars. The group will also be carrying a cross during the walk. For those who are not able to walk the distance there will be vans to transport people between sites. At the end of the walk, the participants will gather for refreshments. April 5, Easter Sunday First Congregational United Church of Christ, 10:00am

9 The Caller 9 UCC News NYUCC Women s Retreat The New York UCC Conference is holding their annual retreat at Watson Homestead. Women of all ages are invited. Members and friends alike are welcome. Because of our proximity we have the option of going for the entire time, Thursday April 30 th Saturday May 2 nd or you are welcome to commute for individual days. Please feel free to contact Pastor Marraine for more details. Community Events FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY Southeast Steuben County BOOK SALE STARTS SATURDAY, APRIL 25- SATURDAY, MAY 2ND, 2015 EAST CORNING FIRE HALL ROUTE 352 (EAST CORNING ROAD) BETWEEN EXITS 47 AND 48 OFF I-86 NEXT TO CORNING ANIMAL HOSPITAL THOUSANDS OF HARD COVER BOOKS, PAPERBACKS, CD S, DVD s, PUZZLES, AUDIO BOOKS, GAMES AND OTHER BARGAINS ARRANGED FOR BROWSING. FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL (607) Corning Area Aging in Place Thursday, April 30th, 10am First Congregational UCC Skilled Nursing Facility Care: what to look for and what to expect Our speaker will be Nicole Walker, the new NYConnects & Caregiver Resource Center Coordinator, Steuben County Office for the Aging. Learn what NYConnects can do for you if you or a loved one ever needs long term skilled nursing care. All are welcome! Memorial Society of the Greater Corning Area Annual Spring Program Sunday, April 26th, 2pm First Congregational UCC CareFirst in the Community Speaker Suzanne Scheib, RN, BSN, CHPN, Education and Access Director for CareFirst, has 25 years experience in community health and hospice care. All are welcome!

10 10 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat :30 Dish-to-Pass 7:00pm Maundy Thursday Service 12pm Community Service at Christ Episcopal 1pm Stations of the City 7:00pm AA :00am Worship Women s Fellowship noon Deacon s Mtg. 7:00pm 6:00pm Bells 7:00 AA 7:15pm Choir 7:00pm AA :00am Worship Congregational Discussion 5-7pm Youth Group 5:30pm Strings 7:00pm Brassworks Trustee s Mtg. 7:00pm 6:00pm Bells 7:00 AA 7:15pm Choir 7:00pm AA :00am Worship 5-7pm Youth Group 5:30pm Strings 7:00pm Brassworks :00am Worship NAMI Mtg. 7pm Christian Ed. Mtg. 7pm Pastor Marraine begins her sabbatical! 6:00pm Bells 7:00 AA 7:15pm Choir 10am CAAIP 7:00pm AA 5-7pm Youth Group 5:30pm Strings 7:00pm Brassworks Advisory Mtg. 7pm 6:00pm Bells 7:00 AA 7:15pm Choir

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12 12 First Congregational United Church of Christ 171 West Pulteney Street Corning, NY the CALLER of the First Congregational United Church of Christ, Corning